Carton erection apparatus



Feb. 6, 1968 A. F. RHINO ET AL 3,367,248

CARTON ERECTION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E 2 10 Z0 WM 3 76 nu" I] 75 h V "l v- 6 I m Yb 84 .lH 52 Z2 Z2 H a4 i. I l In 3D 68 if 68 v 62 6e HI! 1W I 4 H I 0 INVENTORS Azsi/er A" EH/A/O, Mu %M/ 47 TOE/V5145 Feb. 6, 1968 F RHINO ET AL 3,367,248

CARTON ERECTION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS 448527 F 2/7000, CLARE/W56. osr/n/ c/E.

United States Patent 3,367,248 CARTON ERECTIGN APPARATUS Albert F. Rhino, (Irystal Lake, and Clarence G. Austin, J12, Woodstock, ilL, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Haskon, 1116., Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1965, et. No. 516,002 8 Claims. (Cl. 93-53) Our invention relates to carton erection apparatus and more particularly to an improved erection apparatus for tubular carton blanks which opens the flattened carton blank and over-bends the sides of the same to facilitate forming of the completed carton.

Carton and box forming apparatus which convert flattened carton blank into a formed carton or box are well known and in use. Generally the carton is of a tubular construction with connected side panels and fiaps at the extremities thereof which blank in the flattened form have the sides substantially coplanar. Such carton blanks are first opened to their normal cross-sectional configuration and the end flap portions are so treated or manipulated as to form completed bottom and top portions for the same. In the opening operation of such carton blanks, it has been well recognized to use suction cups which engage and adhere to side panel portions of the carton blank to draw the same against fixed stops and open the carton blank to a desired configuration. Such carton blanks have creased connections between the side panels which are bent in the opening operation. In the forming of the carton, certain of the flaps are normally sealed together when the carton is in an open condition to provide rigidity to the carton structure. In many instances these carton blanks are formed on a die or mandrel over which the carton blank must be positioned in the carton forming operation. In the field of cartons which are adapted to contain a liquid, such as milk cartons, the accurate positioning of the carton in the erected form when the bottom is folded is essential for a positive and liquid tight seal of the same. Normally such cartons are formed on a mandrel and the carton must be properly opened to a desired position before it can be accurately positioned on the mandrel and properly positioned thereon for positive bending of the bottom flaps and a proper sealing of the same to complete the carton.

The present invention is directed to a portion of the erection apparatus which opens the flattened carton blank and over-bends the sides of the same to provide that the carton blank when opened for the forming operation will retain the desired cross-sectional or carton form such that the flaps of the same may be properly folded and sealed in a forming operation. This is accomplished by over-bending the carton blank beyond its desired form from the flattened position so that it will, through inherent resiliency, move back to the proper form and maintain such form as it is advanced onto asssociated equipment in the forming operation. This improved structure properly conditions the carton blank for ease in the remaining forming operation, prevents damage to cartons and insures that the carton will be porperly formed and sealed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved carton erection apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide in apparatus of this type a structure which will permit ease in opening of the carton blank and will insure that the carton blank will remain in a fully open position after release of the suction cups from the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved carton erection apparatus which conditions the carton blank for completion of a forming operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in apparatus of this type a structure for opening and over-bending the sides of the carton blank at the creases of the same.

A final object of this invention is to provide apparatus of this type which is low in cost, provides positive opening and erection action and is readily adaptable for use in varying types of forming apparatus.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached description together with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of theimproved carton erec tion apparatus,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the improved carton erection apparatus, and

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic View of a portion of the carton erection apparatus.

Our improved carton erection apparatus relates to that portion of a carton forming machine which opens a carton blank from its flattened form to its normal cross-sectional configuration and conditions the carton for completion of the forming operation, such as to fold flaps and seal the same. This particular apparatus is primarily directed to cartons of the paper type having a plastic or wax coating which are erected to their normal form and have end flaps infolded and sealed to contain a liquid. In apparatus of this type, the carton blank is normally positioned on a mandrel or form such that the folding and sealing of end flaps will be accurately creased and sealed to provide a liquid tight structure. It is essential that the carton be opened to a desired cross-section or form such that it may be accurately positioned on a mandrel or support for the remaining portion of the forming operation without damage to the carton and so that the flaps may be accurately located to provide a positive sealed structure. Such cartons are normally constructed with crease lines at the edges and defining the flaps and having normal resiliency to remain in the flattened condition after they are opened. Such cartons have previously been opened through the use of suction cups engaging panels of the same and moving the panel away from other panels of the carton and against stops to open the carton to a desired form. In the improved carton erection apparatus of the present invention, the carton is opened and over-bent along its creases to overcome the tendency for the carton to return to the fiat form thus simplifying the structure and increasing the accuracy with which the carton blank is advanced onto a suitable form or mandrel for the remaining carton forming operation. Within the scope of the present invention, the details of the folding and sealing of the end flaps may vary with varying types of machines. Thus the present invention is particularly directed to the type of carton used in the milk industry which is normally of a square cross section and is an elongated flat coated tubular carton with end flaps which fold in and seal to form the bottom of the carton and a gable type top which is sealed after filling. One such carton is shown in the Eggleston et a1. Patent 1,120,335 dated Feb. 4, 1965 and entitled container With Infolded Bottom Closure.

Our improved carton erection apparatus operates to open folded carton blanks from a condition in which the side panels of the carton are substantially coplanar. Thus as will be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the carton blanks, indicated generally at 10, are normally mounted in a hasket 20 or holding structure when the same are loaded into a forming machine. Such carton blanks will be held in a stacked relationship in flattened form, and the basket or holder will. have an open extremity, indicated at 22, through which the carton blanks are drawn. The carton blanks are normally held in position in the basket or extremity by flange portions such as is indicated at 23 on the basket which engage the edges of the same in the flattened form.

Carton blanks are normally withdrawn from such a blank holder or basket by means of a suction cup apparatus and in our improved carton forming structure such structure is shown generally at 25. It includes two pair of suction cups 26, 27 and 26', 27' each mounted on a pivoted arm, such as is indicated at 28, 29 and 28', 29' with the arms being pivotally supported on a support member 30 through pivots 32, 33 and 32', 33'. In the preferred embodiment of our structure, the carton blanks are removed by a pair of suction cups for the purpose of positively withdrawing the same from the basket and directing them through an opening and bending structure, indicated generally at 40. Prior constructions have used a single suction cup which operates in a longitudinal direction with reciprocal movement to withdraw said blank-s. In the preferred embodiment of our structure, the suction cups 26, 27, 26' 27 are positioned on a supporting member 30 such that they will engage adjacent panels of the carton blank exposed in the opening 22 of the basket or holder. Preferably two pairs of such suction cups will be utilized above and below the bending structure 40 as will be hereinafter identified. Thus as will be shown in FIG- URES l and 2, the suction cup apparatus includes the upper and lower pair of suction cups 26, 27, 26 27 respectively which are mounted on suitable supporting structure 30 which is mounted on a centrally located thrust member 45 operatively connected to shaft 47 of an actuator indicated generally at 50. Also included with the centra-lly located thrust member is a manifold section 46 to which is attached a pipe and guide member 51, the pipe being slidably mounted in a supporting block 60 along with the shaft to guide the thrust member 45 and hence the supporting structure 30 with the suction cups 26, 27 and 26', 27 respectively thereon to move in a longitudinal straight line movement toward and away from the basket in the removal of carton blanks therefrom and the opening of the same.

The carton blanks as they leave the basket are directed through a guide and opening structure 40 which is formed of a pair of guide plates 61, 62 respectively which guide plates have an arcuate or curved surface at one extremity and a form portion at the other extremity formed by two straight sides meeting in a right angle, such as indicated at 64. The guide plates are positioned in opposed relationship on either side of the straight line of movement of the mounting member 45 on the shaft 47 of the actuator. With carton blanks which erect to square cross-section the guide plates are symmetrically shaped to provide an open extremity adjacent the basket 20 with the arcuate surfaces at the initial portion defining a generally semi-circular type of surface and tapering down to a reduced or neck portion, indicated at 65, with the straight line sides defining the cross-sectional area of the completed carton at the opposite extremity. The operating shaft 47 and the guide shaft 50 supplying vacuum pressure to the manifold 46 and feeding the suction cups through tubing 68 will move partially between the plates in the engagement of the carton blank and the opening of the same as they are drawn back toward the form portion 64 of the guide structure 40. Suitable mounting pins 70 positioned through supporting flanges 76 and threaded in the same are adjustable to define the contour and spacing between the plates. Thus the guide structure may be adjusted to open and erect varying sized carton blanks such as is used in the milk industry. It will be recognized within the scope of this invention that an irregular shaped carton, such as a rectangular cross-section may be utilized and that the symmetry between the guide plates 61, 62 will be replaced by different curved surfaces to provide the resulting end form portion and opening section at the extremities of the same.

The concept of the present invention is to provide for engagement of the suction cups against the flattened car- 4 ton blank on either side of a crease line thereof to draw a carton blank between the guide plates such that the edges of the same engage the arcuate surfaces which are curved toward one another. This operation will open the respec-.

tive carton blanks to its desired erected form with further movement of the carton through the reduced portion 65 operating to bend the carton blank at the creases beyond the desired form and to a substantially flattened form across the opposite surfaces of the carton. Beyond the reduced portion 65 of the guide structure 40, the straight sides of the guide plates will define the end form or desired cross-sectional form for the carton and the normal resiliency of the carton after it has been drawn through the reduced section will allow the same to return to the desired shape defined by the sides 64 of this portion of the guide structure. At the extreme of movement the vacuum applied to the suction cups 26, 27, 26', 27' is removed such as through the operation of a valve positioned in the manifold 46 and having a stem 82 engaging the guide flange 60 at the extreme of movement of the actuator shaft and tubular conduit or pipe 50. This will release the vacuum applied to the suction cups and allow the carton to be released within the form. During the movement of the suction cups, as the carton blank is opened, the pivoted arms 28, 28', 29, 29 upon which they are mounted are allowed to pivot permitting the suction cups to remain connected to the surface of the carton sides as it is directed along the curved surface of the guide plates 60, 61 and through the reduced portion between the same. A bias spring 84 positioned between the support arms 30 and the pivoted arms 28, 29, 28', 29 for the suction cups will allow the suction cups to return to a desired position in which they will directly engage the carton blank as the structure is advanced toward the basket to pick up the carton blank in the same. The tubing 68 connecting the manifold 46 with the suction cups is flexible and of sufiicient length to allow such pivotal movement of the arms 28, 29, 28', 29' on the respective supporting structures 30. It will also be recognized that the supporting structure may take varying forms and the suction cups must be so pivoted on the forms as to allow for the change in shape of the carton blank as it is overbent when it is drawn through the reduced portion 65 of the guide plates 61, 62.

Initial opening and over-bending of the carton blank represents the start of the carton forming function and in effect erects the carton blank for the remaining operations in a carton forming machine. In the present disclosure, suction cups are applied to the carton blanks above and below the guide plates such as to positively drawn the carton blank through the guide plates to open and overbend the same with the resulting form structure at the end of the guide plates positively defining and locating the carton blanks with respect to the remaining portion of a carton forming structure. The carton is removed from the straight side portion of the guide structure by engagement of additional suction cups, such as is indicated at 90, mounted in associated guide structure 92 and moved longitudinally through a suitable actuator 94 to withdraw the same from the form portion of the guide plates in a direction normal to the movement of the initial erection mechanism. This advances the open carton blanks out of the guide plates 61, 62 and onto associated machinery or apparatus in a carton forming machine, such as a mandrel (not shown), wherein the carton would have the end flaps of the same creased, heated and sealed to complete the carton forming function. The desired overbending of the carton blank insures that the carton will be in a correct cross-sectional configuration at the time it is positioned on the associated mandrel or advanced toward the same so that the car-ton blank will not be damaged by the transfer to the mandrel. Further, it insures that the carton blanks will be properly positioned such that the end flaps may be folded for a positive and accurate location of the flaps and a positive seal of the same to provide a liquid tight carton. The over-bending of the carton blank in the opposite direction during the opening of the same insures that the tendency to return to the flattened form is eliminated. This increases the accuracy of the forming operation which may take varying forms. Reference is made to the Terry Patent 3,064,- 542 dated Nov. 20, 1962 and entitled Carton Forming Machine for one type of carton forming structure which would utilize the improved erection apparatus of the present invention.

It will be recognized also that the varying sized cartons may be accommodated with a simplified adjustment or spacing of the guide plates 61, 62 forming the guide structure to accommodate symmetrically shaped cartons such as is used in the milk industry or irregular shaped cartons, such as those rectangular in cross-section which are erected from a flattened form. The actual stroke of the actuator and the conduit supplying the vacuum to the suction cups will remain the same and the adjustment of the form will permit the varying width of cartons and the desired cross-sectional end shape.

In considering this invention it should be remembered that the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative only and the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A carton erection apparatus comprising, a basket adapted to hold a plurality of flattened carton blanks in a stacked relationship, a plurality of suction cups each pivotally mounted on a frame, means for moving the frame in a reciprocal movement toward and away from the basket in a straight line, guide plate means positioned on each side of the straight line of reciprocal movement of the frame, said guide plate means each having identical arcuate surfaces with an end portion having two straight sides joined at a right angle, means mounting the guide plate means such that the arcuate portions are spaced apart substantially the width of the basket adjacent the basket and curved toward one another intermediate the extent of the guide plate means to provide a narrow portion terminating in a square configuration portion defined by the straight sides, said suction cups on the frame being adapted to remove a flattened carton blank from the basket and open the carton blank upon movement of the frame as the edges of the carton blank engage the arcuate surfaces of the guide plate means over bending the carton blank beyond the normal square cross-sectional configuration of the carton blank at the narrow portion of the guide plate means and moving the carton blank into the square configuration portion at the end of the guide plate means, and means controlling the application of a vacuum pressure to the suction cups and to release the same as the carton blank reaches the end of the guide plate means.

2. The carton erection apparatus of claim 1 in which the plurality of suction cups pivotally mounted on the frame are at least a pair of suction cups mounted on the frame in spaced relationship and adapted to engage the flattened carton blank on surfaces to either side of a crease line such as to draw the carton blank from the basket and through the guide plate means.

3. The carton erection apparatus of claim 1 in which the plurality of suction cups pivotally mounted on the frame includes at least two pairs of suction cups positioned on the frame such that one pair is positioned above and the other below the guide plate means to engage the flattened carton blank in the basket and move it through the guide plate means.

4. The carton erection apparatus of claim 1 in which the guide plate means includes a pair of guide plates identical in construction and shape and positioned with one extremity adjacent the basket to receive carton blanks and in which the means mounting the guide plate of the guide plate means adjustably position the guide plates on either side of the straight line of reciprocal movement of the frame to vary the spacing therebetween such as to accommodate various sized cartons.

5. The carton erection apparatus of claim 1 in which the pivotally mounted suction cups are spring biased on said frame such that they will engage the surface of the flattened carton blank in the basket as the means moving the frame positions the suction cups adjacent the basket and will permit pivotal movement of the suction cups as the carton blank is opened and over-bent through engagement of the carton blank with the narrow portion of the guide plate means.

6. A carton erection apparatus for over-bending carton blanks comprising, a blank holder adapted to position a plurality of flattened carton blanks therein, suction cup means including a plurality of pairs of suction cups pivotally mounted on a frame and positioned in pairs to engage spaced points on the carton blank, means mounting the frame for longitudinal and reciprocal movement toward and away from the carton blank holder, a guide structure positioned in proximity with the carton blank holder and adjacent the mounting frame with the suction cup means thereon, said guide structure having a semi-circular curved surface with a reduced open passage portion opposite the open end thereof and a form portion at the opposite extremity adapted to engage the sides of the carton blank in an open and erected position, said suction cup means upon engagement of the carton blank and withdrawal from the blank holder being operative to move the carton blank such that the outer edges thereof engage the semi-circular curved surface of the guide structure to open the carton blank as the suction cup means is moved longitudinally and to draw the blanks through the reduced passage portion to over-bend the same along its edges and position the carton blank in the form portion in an erected condition, and means connected to and operating the mounting means for the suction cup means to move said means longitudinally toward and away from the carton blank holder.

7. The carton blank apparatus of claim 6 in which the guide structure with the semi-circular curved surface open at one extremity adjacent the carton blank holder has a square form configuration at the opposite extremity thereof, and with the suction cup means being positioned to either side of the reduced portion of the guide structure and on opposite edge surfaces of the guide structure.

8. The carton erection apparatus of claim 6 in which the suction cup means are pivotally mounted on the frame to move with the carton blank as it is erected through engagement with the curved and reduced portions of the guide structure and in which the suction cup means are pivotally biased toward a pre-determined position such that the suction cups will engage the flattened surface of the carton blank at the blank holder when the means mounting the same is positioned adjacent thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD ST C Primary Examin r. 

1. A CARTON ERECTION APPARATUS COMPRISING, A BASKET ADAPTED TO HOLD A PLURALITY OF FLATTENED CARTON BLANKS IN A STAKED RELATIONSHIP, A PLURALITY OF SUCTION CUPS EACH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON A FRAME, MEANS FOR MOVING THE FRAME IN A RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE BASKET IN A STRAIGHT LINE, GUIDE PLATE MEANS POSITIONED ON EACH SIDE OF THE STRAIGHT LINE OF RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF THE FRAME, SAID GUIDE PLATE MEANS EACH HAVING IDENTICAL ARCUATE SURFACES WITH AN END PORTION HAVING TWO STRAIGHT SIDES JOINED AT A RIGHT ANGLE, MEANS MOUNTING THE GUIDE PLATE MEANS SUCH THAT THE ARCUATE PORTIONS ARE SPACED APART SUBSTANTIALLY THE WIDTH OF THE BASKET ADJACENT THE BASKET AND CURVED TOWARD ONE ANOTHER INTERMEDIATE THE EXTENT OF THE GUIDE PLATE MEANS TO PROVIDE A NARROW PORTION TERMINATING IN A SQUARE CONFIGURATION PORTION DEFINED BY THE STRAIGHT SIDES, SAID SUCTION CUPS ON THE FRAME BEING ADAPTED TO REMOVE A FLATTENED CARTON BLANK FROM THE BASKET AND OPEN THE CARTON BLANK UPON MOVEMENT OF THE FRAME AS THE EDGES OF THE CARTON BLANK ENGAGE THE ARCUATE SURFACES OF THE GUIDE PLATE MEANS OVER BENDING THE CARTON BLANK BEYOND THE NORMAL SQUARE CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION OF THE CARTON BLANK AT THE NARROW PORTION OF THE GUIDE PLATE MEANS AND MOVING THE CARTON BLANK INTO THE SQUARE CONFIGURATION PORTION AT THE END OF THE GUIDE PLATE MEANS, AND MEANS CONTROLLING THE APPLICATION OF A VACUUM PRESSURE TO THE SUCTION CUPS AND TO RELEASE THE SAME AS THE CARTON BLANK REACHES THE END OF THE GUIDE PLATE MEANS. 